| This week, I’m going to talk about one of the less exciting aspects of running a business: policies and procedures. I hope you’re still reading and haven’t deleted this email after the first sentence. I’m here to persuade you about the importance of creating a technology policy for your business that can be fun to read and helpful to your team.
“Why is it even important to have a technology policy?” is the first and most important question to answer. Well, there are several reasons. Whether you need it for acquiring cyber insurance for your business, which is highly recommended, or you simply want to shield yourself from potential legal claims resulting from a failure to communicate the rules of the road, having and communicating a straightforward technology use policy could save you from much bigger headaches. Clearly defining and communicating acceptable behaviors will help you avoid being held accountable for not taking cyber threats seriously. Simply put, you will be doing your part so you can expect your team to do theirs.
“And how is it helpful?” you might ask. Surprisingly, what you consider common knowledge might be entirely unfamiliar to someone else, especially if your business doesn’t revolve around technology. Your staff may not be well-versed in cyber threats, not because they lack intelligence, but simply because they haven’t been exposed to information that would help them stay secure. Here are some examples of critical information you can provide:
– Proper methods for transmitting sensitive and personally identifiable information.
– What constitutes a strong password policy (hint: it’s no longer about changing it every six months or using random gibberish words).
– How to properly shut down their computers at the end of the workday.
– Steps to keep their smartphones secure, which often contain sensitive business data.
“But fun? How?” you might now ask. Well, one of the key skills of effective leadership is communication. Your voice is crucial in advancing your team along the path defined by your team’s culture, vision, and mission. The best way to actively convey these essential pillars of success while keeping them engaged is to inject some fun into your communication. If you don’t enjoy delivering a message, it’s highly unlikely that your team will have much interest in receiving it. In such cases, you should ask yourself: What’s the point? If you’re trying to convey a dull message, consider adding a touch of fun to make it more engaging. When it comes to a technology policy, here’s a great starting sentence: “At ABC Incorporated, we are as frustrated as you about keeping guard against bad guys who attempt to exploit our technology for their evil scams. To ensure we keep our front door locked and windows securely shut, we’ve compiled a list of guidelines, put together by a digital security expert. As the saying goes, ‘You’re only as strong as your weakest link.’ We appreciate your attention to the items below so we can all play a part in fortifying our defenses.”
This may not be the most exciting task, but we’re here to help! Every business, in this technology-driven era, should not only document a technology use policy but also actively communicate and educate their team about it.
I have to end with: I’m not a lawyer and the content provided here is for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. I think I would’ve been a fun kind of lawyer though. However, I think I would have been a fun kind of lawyer in another life. Maybe in my next one…
See you next week!
– Burak Sarac, Team Lead
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